The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has bought $410,000 worth of television time in Maine, where a political triangle in the Senate race has created an unpredictable dynamic.

The DSCC ad was not immediately available, but the committee is likely to use the Oct. 2-12 buy to directly target Maine Secretary of State Charlie Summers (R), who has been climbing in the polls in the race for the seat of retiring Sen. Olympia Snowe (R). The DSCC ad is not expected to mention either former Gov. Angus King (I), who is expected to caucus with Democrats, or state Sen. Cynthia Dill, the Democratic nominee. King is the frontrunner but has seen his lead shrink in the past few weeks as the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have spent money on advertising.

"Charlie Summers is an anti-choice Tea Partier, who supports eliminating the Department of Education, privatizing Social Security, protecting tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, and ending Medicare as we know it," DSCC Executive Director Guy Cecil said in a statement. "Charlie Summers should not be in the United States Senate and it is time every Mainer knows it."

The danger for Democrats, oddly, is if Dill, who is unlikely to win, takes too much of the Democratic vote from King. That could allow for a Summers victory.

"It’s remarkable to see national Democrats now spending money in a state where they refuse to even endorse their own nominee," NRSC Executive Director Rob Jesmer said. "Now that they are spending almost a half-million dollars in Maine, the DSCC should make clear who they are supporting" — Dill or King, whom the state Democratic Party chairman is unsure about.

This race could potentially decide control of the Senate. A Democratic win in Maine makes the GOP path to the majority a narrower proposition.